The Iron Age 1920-11-04: Vol 106 Iss 19

TABLISHED 1855 THE IRON AGE New York, November 4, 1920 VOL. 106: No. 19 New Department in Detroit Plant Under Factory Planning Engi- neer—Acts as Link Between Purchasing Department and Factory—All De- partments Pleased with Results BY DON F. KENNEDY COMMON remark among salesmen goes A something like this: “Oh, I never go near the purchasing department if I can help it. Those fellows don’t know anything about my line. [ get to the superintendent or the factory manager or one of the foremen, by the back-door route.” How this state of affairs has been changed at the Timken-Detroit Axle Co.’s Detroit plant, to the omplete satisfaction of the salesmen, the factory management and the purchasing department, by the installation of a new position with the title of fac- tory planning engineer, should be of interest to manufacturing plants large enough to have a pur- chasing department. The “back-door salesman” is a nuisance. This is admitted even by the firms that have in some instances found it necessary to employ salesmen for this purpose only. On their side, and it must be admitted that they have in agreement with them the sales department of almost every manufacturer ' technical products, it is claimed that they are compelled to resort to such tactics in order to get an intelligent hearing. The young men in the pur- hasing departments of any size whose duty it is to interview the large number of unknown men with inknown products coming to their door daily nat- irally do not always have sufficient experience to nable them to judge the value of such products or ne applicability to the plant for which they are iying. It is also claimed that such young men, d it might be said, some men who are not so ung, take pleasure in using the autocratic powers ith which they are vested in turning down sales- en whese products, if brought to the attention of ne right persons, would be seen on investigation solve existing problems admirably. Whatever nay be the merits of this contention, the belief is niversal among salesmen. On the other hand, it is said by the men of the *Sales engineer, Detroit. 1177 — ened purchasing department that they cannot have me- chanical or electrical engineers to handle all the multiplicity of detail connected with their work, nor can they call in the superintendent to talk with every man who comes to their door. This is true They also say that they cannot maintain discipline either in their department or in the factory if ever) man who asks is let loose to roam about the plant at will; that the purpose of the purchasing depart- ment is to do the purchasing and that they propose to do it. Which is likewise true. The result of this situation in most plants is that many devices and methods of merit brought to the door at large cost of salesmen’s salaries and expenses never get to the right man. The oppor- tunity is lost of lowering the cost of two elements that go to make up the cost of present day existence; the article made at the plant in question, which might be lowered by installation of the saleman’s product, and the selling cost of the product itself For the cost of bringing the product to the plants that do not buy must be paid for by the ones that do. The factory planning engineer of the Timken- Detroit Axle Co. is a man of progressive ideas, for- merly master mechanic. He reports to the manufac- turing manager, who in turn reports to the vice- president and general manager. He is kept ir formed of the general policies of the company for six months or a year in advance, as determined by the board of directors from the reports of their sales department, in conjunction with their judg- ment of conditions in general in their industry. Under his jurisdiction comes building layout, loca- tion of machinery, machine loads, progressive pro- duction, progressive assembly, new methods and testing of manufacturing supplies. For a staff he has several young men who are engineering schoo! graduates, of a naturally inquiring disposition, who seize this opportunity of acquiring in a compara- tively short time the valuable and varied experience which such a position affords. In view of these con- a a lillian EE manent mami i nag atin ate abide iin iis lpn ————e a | oe ——_ TS EN SR AN ets 1178 ditions, they are glad to start in at a moderate sal- ary. At their disposal is a complete chemical and physical laboratory and a well equipped experi- mental machine shop, used until recently as a “‘vesti- bule school,” of which more will be said later. Keeping Plant in Prime Manufacturing Order Factory planning is based on the production schedule for the various types of axles made for the coming six to twelve months. Factory space is allo- cated to the different departments with this schedule in view. As a result of bringing these matters for decision under one head, a considerable amount of factory trucking has been eliminated by rearranging the locations of departments. Plans are made far enough ahead so that, regardless of varying growth as changes in business about, the general positions of the departments remain the same. In planning machine burden, space is left for additional machinery which. will be required when production reaches figures which appear probable come ORGANIZATION CHARI \ Pre ~ \y M I M f g \ 9 i Pl: I New Method Progressive Assen Progressi P Macl ne Loa S Location of Ma Build Lay L1esting Mar gS s x I ’ ft r¢ é K nes hines ar é ipon as r as pos é WI the time comes for installatioz is not necessar e anv he n ines aly i n place The On ¢ Snatt y JULICYS aq nangers 1S ke iwcou eay y e WOrk yr tne rignts ning up or changing the diz sha : 7 1 countersnalits Requisitions for ew ma l ! epalrs <¢ ’ TH r S Y } ne S | S¢ ] VV n Tt I { Ss I tl Ww ral rdet é ce W rs I t ¥ Yr 7 Ww r ru S ir ? r Y lT yr YTyY ire. Requests for new n S S et g é DV a sin ir hine yrmerly used Ss epartment located in an entirely differen the plant, but now in disuse. No machinery is owed to be except on jlepartment. Under the heading the depart- ment is a clearing house for the new ideas that come every day to the minds or attention of the members themselves, or the executives and other men of the company. Being expert mechanics and knowing the conditions of the factory so closely, they are in posi- tion to pass upon the feasibility of such sugges- moved a requisition from this 1 . etnoas, new m THE IRON November 4 AGE eal tions. All ideas submitted are studied ¢a and a written report is given to the manufa manager, with a copy to the originator. |; not feasible, the reasons are stated. If the worth carrying out, a layout is made of fixtures and machine equipment required a) to the tool design department to put into eff. Securing Best Adapted Manufacturing Supplic. Testing of manufacturing supplies is th: the work that is most original. When a xs with a new device or product starts to tell to the purchasing department, he is interrupt the statement that there is a special de under an expert mechanic whose duty it is i When he recovers his breat the sudden shock of such an unheard-of stat he usually cries “‘Lead me to it!” The head department has the time to listen to the sak story, and the practical experience to decid the merits of it. It may be that factory co: are such that the device will not fit into their or they may be discontinuing or about to dis the process involved; or it may be that the is Just what they are looking for, or is und test at that time. Whatever the outcome, the salesman fe: he has been afforded the opportunity of pres int iil Oo such cases. his case without undue haste to a man of judging its merits, and entirely in his judgment. His time has not been or has a_ busy factory executive w iltitude of pressing problems on _ his been called away from his work at an inopport oment, and the purchasing department is aff hat much more time to take care of the e1 detail that is part of its job. In view of the st nents made in the early part of this article, it not be out place to state here that the purchas the Timken-Detroit Axle | ng had an enviable reputation for more th nary fairness and ability. While the writer was in the office of department of the factory planning department a s: brought in a new type of welding apparat which advantages were claimed over the app: in common use. The factory planning engines position to see that there was somethi! said on this score, but he also knew that present business conditions castings and vere coming through with fewer surface and that the company is gradually getting m the use of castings. There was acc ) use in taking up any time investigating t er, as these conditions indicate that ther: hortly be little, if any, welding done in An important part of the work is testing is supplies and materials purchased and view to standardizing on makes or : S experiments are being made in su ss expensive articles for a purpose, or ter results from those used. Some tim«e ded to try out different makes of ters, spot facers, etc. The purchasing rote to all makers they knew or < inviting ing them to send in for test sam i certain size and shape which would make | a uniform comparison. Almost every firm add: sent in samples, which are now being tested. Various makes of high-speed tool steels are wise being tried out, each one under the condit specified as best by its maker. On one brand, instance, it is claimed that the first grind wil! necessary much sooner than is usually required, Dut that the additional life obtained on the second and succeeding grinds make this brand, though n vember 4, 1920 y in first price, more economical in the end. department has time and facilities for ascer- ning the truth and value of such claims. Inter- ng results are being obtained from forged and high-speed cutters. Also undergoing scrutiny rust removers, methods of rust-proofing, paint axles, shellac, washing and cleaning compounds, iting, belting, oils, grinding wheels and disks and renewers—articles such as are shown grouped the head of the article. Investigating for Substitutes Shellae in large quantities is used on the paper sket between the differential cover and the axle ising. This material has been both scarce and tremely high in price. An investigation was pro- tive of a substitute which will save the company ething like $15,000 a year, and which has the ed virtue of allowing the gasket to be removed thout destroying it each time the differentia! ver is taken off. The saving in this one item alone very nearly pay the entire cost of the depart- nt for a year. Quantities of grinding wheel disks are used to ie up brake band linings after assembly in the e. The disks quickly gum up with the materials 1 which the lining is made, and they are quickly) dered useless long before the abrasive begins to r off. All sorts of acids and solutions have been in an effort to dissolve the gummy substance, without success. A few days ago an entirely fferent method was tried, which seems to do the k. As these disks cost around $1.50 each, and ip in less than two hours, the saving here wi very tid? item. Z OY Hardening and quenching oils, zing pots and compounds are being looked In the insignificant subject of floor cleaning pounds, it was found that one type costing about same as others would whiten the floor in about f the time. The Saving here is in janitor’s labor. * , , 7 } \ arious belt cleaning compounds are on the mar- Not one of the salesmen interviewed could tell how his cleaner actually cleaned. After consid- bie investigation in the chemical laboratory, 1 } 14 ~~ : . “a0 } . ‘ ° - n belts after iong use 1s in reality a sort ol rmed by the union of the tannic acid in the with iron oxide from the pulleys. r} ] ] ] A ’ 1 ‘ vi hitened tne pelts aiso remove the tannk 1 in so doing removed the chief element of noth ir +ha las hor \ math 1 } an f ma gtn in tne leatner. A metnod nas been found . ae } I+ ¢ } Re’ no . + ho + .- , renews a bDeilt to What appears ) e itS Orig- eanness and goodness, without removing the engin pu nto tne pe ry inning ne rs : . + ‘ ‘ ‘ ( na i a cos ) Ss ¢ — lareé + . | vas found that spending ‘ é Y rates ir assen ect ix 3 2 roe ~ t¥ t ] +} y f : y ’ 4 | S erected as e resu I € I i) l l oF pments a7 17 g ey renair ‘ Cialms rerences are neid every day r tw ‘ nasinege len: rimeny;r s nd f< Toru Yr Y cer Wr tT. asin Geparvument and lat ry Manayel veri ror y+ ar sat sit+t+o + h rine h< io + eports are submitted to the purchasing depart- which buying principles are based Now ~ L 2 } —— . ~ — ‘ ~wrr >} 1 r ~) €n tne purcnasing agent 1S approached Dy <v ] . . aoe) onnifl } : > oa «4 ] satesmen, each with the claim that his steel is as “1 as the other fe llow’s, all the purchasing agent is to do is to say that the results of their invest zations allow him to buy only from certain sources, eaving him free from bias either for or against the personality of the salesmen. If practices are dis- + i vered that render it advisable not to do business with certain firms, the purchasing department has THE IRON AGE only to say that as a result of tests it is not allowed to have any dealings with such firms. All machine tools are serially numbered. An in- vestigation is being made of the belt load on each machine, and a standard belt type is prescribed for it. Instead of requisitions for a certain width, weight and type of belt for each machine as it re- quires renewal, which may or may not be the proper ne for the job, requisition will be made only for a belt for machine number so and so. By consulting a chart which is now being prepared, the proper kind of belt for this machine is ascertained and furnished. The “vestibule school” is a department that has had its greatest use during the past three or four years. It is really an experimental machine shop, furnished with representative machine tools of all the usual types. An applicant for a job claiming to e an experienced radial drill operator, for instance, is first sent to the school and given a job to do on a radial drill. If he is incompetent and only bluffing, as many have done, it is found out before he gets in the way of regular production and perhaps spoils a too] or a part, and gets regular production traffk he factory planning department is still feeling THE TIMKEN-DETROIT AXLE CO. HAS FOUND A SIMPLE WAY i pre ‘ D 4 ft eir I ] na ¥ } - . s i J i rganizatior | i + x : r ur gett ng r ti r ( isé¢ ? *¢ iT ] pplies a> area 4 WwW A | ’ y ? Ww é is é IY ge y to ] Yr ‘ hes e purchasing dé rtmer n vd f y . Loa+ ‘ . teal? 2 on . eva ls ‘ 3 wa it it has shown itself of sufficient value to be nsidered indispensable by the management. It has not yet been extended to the Canton, Ohio, r to the forge shop or power plant at Detroit [The purchasing department heads say they would dislike to have to work without its help; the factory igement is pleased, and the salesmen who d ness with the company are in hopes that others ipon whom they are still compelled to resort t r . i W i | W Tr ’ ead f | tr , I Stee] { Warren, O ru E vines ng ( 4 ? . i npiet : il riz *h will be incorporated Fuller Dread ir-driven mills and indirect pulverized coal- iller driers, also puiverized al bins, feeders, r ary equipment for all of the sheet, pair, ar ig and slab furnaces. It is planned to have several f the sheet mill furnaces in operation by Jan. 1, and the remainder several months later. The Inland Steel Co., Chicago, at its quarterly meet ing, held Oct. 26, declared the usual quarterly dividend of 75c. per share, payable Dec. 1 to stockholders of rec- ord on Nov. 10. Inland Steel Co, stock is now on the basis of $25 per share, making the rate of return 12 per cent per annum. 7 3 : : I i tt eg A EO A EN ET NE EE Ee NS Ce ese ureenagmneee a ee 1180 CAPITAL PUT INTO GERMANY Financing of Industry by American Interests— Germany Offers Hoops and Bands BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, Oct. 20.—Although reports on the amount of American capital invested in German industry conflict, it is probably between 16,000,000 and 20,000,000 marks. Otto Werdels, director of the Berlin Chamber of Commerce, estimates American investments at about 20,000,000 marks, while Herr Werner Winter- mantel, director of American business of the Deutsche Bank, does not believe they exceed 16,000,000 marks. There are no available data that include all American financial interests in Germany, but among the better known are the holdings of the Virginia-Carolina Chem- ical Co. and the International Agricultural Chemical Co. in the Einickeit and Sollstedt companies. Through Kuhn, Loeb & Co. and the Guggenheim interests finan- cial connections have been made between such American firms as the Continental Rubber Co. and the Gutta Percha Co. and the German companies of Siemens & Halske and the Stettin Electric Works. The recent wave of national economy that has swept over Belgium has been effective in restraining many manufacturers from erecting new plants and increas- ing the capacities of old ones, and to a great extent this slackening in industrial expansion is noticeable in France and Holland. Reports of the recent increase in immigration into the United States are viewed by many business men as the forerunner of improved in- dustrial conditions in America and weakening of European industry. Coal and coke prices continue to increase and de mand exceeds the supply, partly because of the unsat- isfactory functioning of the co-operative committee British Standard Rolled Steel Sections A revised edition of the lists of British standard rolled scctions for structural purposes has been published by the British Engineering Standards Asso- ciation. The total number of standard sections now included is 113. The beam sections have been redesigned to give a greater efficiency in comparison with weight and are divided into two lists, namely, girder sections, and heavy beams and pillars. Bulb tees and zed bars are now eliminated from the standards. The form of the bulb in bulb angles and bulb plates has been cor siderably modified so as to give a more efficient section. The weights per foot and sectional areas of the stand- ard sections are given in the present report, and it is understood that the other properties of the sections, such as the moments of inertia, will be issued in a later publication. Copies of the report may be obtained from the offices of the British Engineering Standards Asso- ciation, 28 Victoria Street, S. W. 1, London, England. 4 ] steel Steel Trade Conditions in Sheffield WASHINGTON. Nov. 1.—Conditions in the steel trade » Sheffield district are reported by Consul William J. Grace from Sheftield, Kngland. “Buying of pig iron and of all classes of steel is at a standstill,” says Mr. Grace. “The tool-steel trade is very dull, and large numbers of people in this branch of trade are unemployed. On the other hand, the makers of saws, files, and joiners’ tools are unable to keep up with the demand. Some branches of heavy steel, such as castings and forgings and railway ma- terial, are fairly busy. Prices of basic steel are lower and quotations therefor from the United States are under those of British makers. There is no foreign competition for acid quality of steel, but prices for this class of steel are firm. “During the past week, an order for the United States for hollow steel bars was completed. It con- sisted of 160 bars, each measuring 62 ft. long by 2 in. diameter, intended for rock boring in America. These are said to be the largest tools ever made, as the longest previously reported averaged from 20 to 30 ft. “Unemployment is now extending every day, par- THE IRON AGE a corresponding November 4, 19 charged with allotting coal of the German indem; and partly attributed to the decreased production by miners. Statistics show that the per capita prod tion of the Belgian miners has dropped from 222 in 1901 to 185 tons in 1918, and it is claimed that 1 production is proportionately less. The union of mi: is strong, out of about 150,000 mine workers, f 130,000 being union men. Dues of a france a week paid by members and a strike fund of 5,000,000 fra is said to be available. Some Evidence of Price Stability Iron and steel prices begin to show some evid of stability, for although producers wil! shade the vailing quotations when opportunity is seen for a isfactory tonnage, a large number of sales are be made at quoted prices. German makers are offe: hoops and bands from Duisborg and Ruhrort, evident: because of conditions in Russia, which was form a large market for this material with both Gern and Belgium. While British interests are makin, strong effort to keep Belgian producers from sel directly into foreign markets, the Belgians fee] they have attained some export success in bui!ding business with British companies and at least tempo: ily eliminating American competition in the Eng market. The recent strike of workers at the Ougrée-Marih plant has been settled. The plants in the Meuse trict have been awarded about 3,000,000 francs as p tial payment of their portion of the German indem: It is reported that the Societé National des Chem de Fer will shortly issue heavy inquiries for railroad material. Since the armistice this organization purchased about 100,000,000 francs of material in B. gium. ticularly in the engineering branches. There is great depression in the crucible steel and electric steel d: partments. Business with the automobile industry ha fallen off to a lamentable degree. It is reported that there are large quantities of Government surplus stock still on the market and that several users have pur chased sufficient of these stocks to last for years. The slackness in special steels has had a | effect on ferroalloys. There is an abundance of metals used in the manufacture of high speed and alloy stee! “Open-hearth furnaces are still delivering heav) tonnages against old contracts. New orders in ever) department consist mostly of the smallest quantities necessary for current consumption. The demand fo acid steel keeps up with the output. Some sectior and sizes are difficult to obtain.” severa 1K Fees for Consulting Engineers Schedules of fees for consulting engineers have bee! compiled by Edmund I. Mitchell, assistant secretary of committee on classification and ¢éompensation of eng neers, Engineering Council, 29 West Thirty-nint! Street, New York. These include various suggestions as to proper fees for engineering services put forth for the American Institute of Consulting Engineers, (o! necticut Society of Civil Engineers, Iowa Engineering Society, Mahoning Valley Engineers, and the America! Institute of Architects; also suggestions made by Ed mund T. Perkins, president, Edmund T. Perkins Eng neering Co., Chicago, to the Illinois Society of Engi neers, 1918, and a fee schedule for consulting engineer in the Kansas City district prepared by W. L. Benham. Three methods of charging are covered by the sched ules, i.e., a percentage of the cost of the completed pro ject, a per diem rate, and a fixed sum. High Price for Coal Land UNIONTOWN, Pa., Oct. 30.—What is believed to > the highest price ever paid in Fayette county for un developed Pittsburgh vein of coal has just been paid b) Wilmer H. Wilkey for a tract of 20 acres in Menalle: township which he has purchased from John Newton Hibbs for $3,600 an acre. New Mill to Roll Automobile Sheets Powdered Coal Used Exclusively in the Plant of the Newton Steel Co. That Is Designed for the Manufacture of High-Grade Sheets RECENT tendency in the sheet mi.l industry bP has been toward the erection of plants de- 4 voted to the manufacture of automobile body sheets. For a long time the demand for full led, full cold rolled and re-annealed sheets for mobiles taxed the capacity of the sheet mills, with the recent slowing down in the automotive istry the surplus product has been absorbed by ifacturers of metal furniture and other con- ers of high grade sheets. \ recent addition to the sheet industry in the Mahoning Valley is the plant of the Newton Steel Newton Falls, Ohio, whose product is high le sheets, about 80 per cent of the output being nded for automobiles. ‘lhe company manufac- sheets from 14 to 28 gage exclusively, in ths up to 48 in. and lengths up to 136 in. The tion of this plant established a new producing t in the sheet steel industry. Newton Falls, lage about nine miles southwest from Warren, selected because of good railroad facilities, ndance of water and easy access to the southern coal fields by a direct line. The plant occupies 50-acre site between the two branches of the honing River and is on two lines—the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and the Lake Erie, Alliance & stern branch of the New York Central Railroad th this location, away from the steel producing ers of the Mahoning Valley district, the com- has been able to recruit a force composed rgely of American workmen. In laying out the mill, convenience and economy) handling material were considered first, there ng practically no “backtracking” from the time sheet bars enter the plant until the sheets are yped out. All manufacturing processes are car- (nase RaeeneNnnestnasietine 10-Ton Crane Delivers the Sheet Bars from the Sheet Bar kling Department to the Charging Side of the Sheet and \ir Furnaces. The pair furnaces are of the Allis continuous pe with electrically operated pushers. The burner and the pes that deliver the pulverized coal and blast at the back of the furnaces are shown in the illustration ried on under one roof in two adjoining main build- ings and two narrow buildings, or lean-tos, mak- ing virtualiy four bays 800 ft. in length, and with a total width of 265 ft. One main building con- tains a sheet bar storage bank, hot mill and shear- ing department, and the other the annealing, cold mill and finishing departments and warehouse. Powdered coal is used for fuel in the sheet and pair and annealing furnaces and under the boilers. The entire plant is electrically operated, current for power being supplied by the Trumbull Public Ser- vice Corporation. The storage and hot mill building is 90 ft. wide and 80C ft. long. One end is used for the storage of sheet bars and the remaining 500 ft. for the hot mill and shearing departments. Stor age capacity is provided for 10,000 tons of sheet bars, and two traveling cranes, 30-ton and 10-ton, have been provided. These and all other cranes were furnished by the Alliance Machine Co. Loaded cars are delivered into the building and the sheet bars are unloaded by the overhead crane. Sieel is pur- chased from various mills, low phosphorus bars of special analysis being specified in order to produce sheets with the required deep drawing qualities and without pits or other surface defects. The bars are purchased in 30 ft. lengths, 8 in. wide and in various thicknesses. The storage room _ is equipped with two heavy duty alligator shears, sup- plied by the United Engineering & Foundry Co., and having a capacity for cutting a 3'4-in. square bar. The sheared bars are delivered into the adjoin ing parallel building along the outer side of the plant. Two pickling vats are located at one end of this building opposite the storage department 1181 a Dineen Ti ee en Al ce a tll lO al oe a Rt a AN CE AN AT I HSS STE. 1182 THE IRON AGE November 4, 1999 jars Are Unloaded with an Oy and the sheet and pair furnaces are at the lower end. ‘The pickling vats are used exclusively for pickling sheet bars, it being the usual practice in making automobile body sheets to remove the scale by pickling before the bars go to the pair heating furnaces. Two 10-ton deliver the sheet bars from the sheet bar pickling department to the ‘harging side of the sheet and pair furnaces. The sheet and pair furnaces are 20 in number. [he pair furnaces of the Ailis continuous type have a charging box provided with V-shaped grooves. The pusher is electrically operated and automati- cally controlled. The sheet and pair furnaces were designed by the Fuller Engineering Co., Allentown, Pa., and were erected by the Newton Steel Co.’s The bars are discharged from the fur- cranes ontractor. naces back into the next bay or mill building, the fronts of the furnaces being alongside this bay. [The furnaces are located to vetween them and the mill being 30 ft. There are 10 finishing and 10 roughing mills, each finishing mill having an adjoining individual roughing stand, this arrangement tending to an increased production as compared with the more general plan of having one roughing mill for two finishing mills. The train is composed of 38, 44, 48 and 54 in. mills, all rolls being 28 in. in diameter. The rolls have 22-in. necks and 20-in. wabblers. The mills are driven at 30 rev. per min. by a 2000-hp. Westinghouse induction type motor cen- trally located between the mill stands, through an 8 to 1 herringbone reduction gear. There are two 25-ton flywheels 12 ft. in diameter. The hot mills were built by the Hyde Park Foundry & Machine provide ample train, the room distance Hot Mills in Foreground and Pair Furnaces in the Background. is one of the blower outlets with pipe extending Hoods in At the right : from the floor, delivering fresh air around the mills. front of the furnaces carry away the fumes and smoke erhead Crane Direc fiom the Cars in the Sheet Bar Storage Ds Co. and the reduction gear drive was furnish the Mesta Machine Co. A Francke flexible ling connects the motor to the pinion shaft spindles and coupling boxes are of cast steel, by the Stroh hardening process. The care of th mill rolls is a matter of importance, the surfaces being kept well polished in order to give the uct the desired finish. Each mill unit is pri with a steam driven doubling hammer. In connection with mill and furnace operation, attention may be called to the provision made for the comfort of the men. An air cooling system is provided which consists of two blowing units, one for each five mill stands. The blowers, supplied by the Buffalo Forge Co., are located just insid the plant, taking in fresh air from outside. Th air is delivered through 3-ft. mains under the floor to 10-in. outlets that extend 30 in. above the floor There are 50 to 60 of these outlets located needed around the mills and in front of the naces. Each outlet has a swinging elbow so the blast can be turned in any direction. blower system takes the place of water standings provided in some mills, and their ad tage is that they supply fresh air from out while the standings only reduce the temperatu of the existing air. A hood is provided over each furnace to c: away the fumes and smoke that arise when doors are open. From the hood there are two « lets that join together in a larger pipe leading the furnace stack. Cold drinking water is | to various points around the mills, being sup The provisions for the « are credited with a from three deep wells. fort of the men remark November 4, 1920 THE IRON AGE 1183 eration record during August a month when out- is usually low because of weather conditions. iring that month the plant was operated 698 out a possible 700 turns, or at 99.71 per cent. of full ficlency. The packs go from the mills to the squaring ears, Which are located in the mill building di- tly opposite the mill train. There are ten 126-in. and 156-in. motor-driven shears, one for each mill. ter the packs are squared to size the sheets are ivered directly across to the annealing depart- ent which occupies the lower 500 ft. in the next ljoining bay. Here after weighing they go rough the various operations of cold rolling, an- ealing, pickling and re-annealing. Practically the ntire product is pickled after annealing and before three final passes through the cold rolls. The kling department is in a lean-to 35 ft. wide ad- ning the annealing floor. The annealing furnaces ire also in this lean-to, with their doors alongside he annealing floor. Pickling is done on two of the rgest type of Mesta pickling machines. This de- rtment is also provided with two drying machines. The sheets are box annealed in 18 annealing fur- wes, Standard annealing practice being followed. Freeman charging machine, the use of which is re general in tin mill plants, is provided for arging the furnaces. The use of this machine minates the V-shaped tracks and cast iron balls which the annealing bottoms travel to the fur- ces. The annealing department is served by a 0-ton overhead crane. The annealing furnaces co ar Or were designed by the Fuller Engineering Co. and were built by the Newton Steel Co. There are two trains of cold rolls, five stands to a train, that are set at right angles to the length of the building between the annealing department and the warehouse. These are 54-in. and 48-in. mills, supplied by the Hyde Park Foundry & Machine Co Each mill train is driven by a 250-hp. Westinghouse motor driven at 350 r.p.m.with a speed reduction to 42 r.p.m. through a Falk Co. reduction gear set. Che warehouse occupies a space 300 x 90 ft. and has adjoining high and low transverse roof sections in order to provide good lighting facilities from above and to permit the proper inspection of the finished sheets. The warehouse is of hollow brick and steel construction and has a creosoted wood block floor. The equipment includes three roller levelers of the Morton-Poole type, three Hyde Park Co. re-squaring shears, two Globe Foundry (Co. stretcher levelers, and an oiling machine. A large part of the product is oiled for shipment. All sheets are inspected individually and sheets having any small defects, such as pit marks, are Classed as The warehouse is equipped with a 10-ton crane, and another crane of the same capacity on the same runway serves the cold mills. All loading is done from a shipping platform 20 ft. wide and 300 ft. long, under roof and adjoining the ware- house. Sheets are delivered into cars from the warehouse on a storage battery truck built by the Lakewood Engineering Co. The powdered coal plant, which was installed by seconds. . The Pickling Department ON ET A Lt I TTL ES CET: oP ene 1184 THE IRON AGE November 4, (429 _— iling Department. Annealing boxes are handled with a 50-ton ire charged in the furnaces with a Freeman charging machin the Fuller Engineering Co., occupies a separate’ in the back of the furnace. Two Buffalo | building near the lower end of the mill buildings. Co. blower units are used, one for each t Coal delivered in hopper cars is dumped into a_ naces. The blower is connected to a 22-in. dia track hopper, and is crushed in a 24-in. Jeffrey sin- galvanized steel duct that extends alongsid gle roll crusher. It is then elevated to a 30-ton bin, bins is reduced in diameter as branch lin¢ located above a Fuller indirect fired rotary drier 30 taken off. A 4-in. air line from the main du ft. in length. nects with each coal feeder and an 8-in. auxili: Irom the drier the coal is elevated to two or secondary air supply is connected to the burn 15-ton bins located above two 42-in. Fuller Le- to regulate combustion. All lines and burners ar high pulverizers and is pulverized to a fineness provided with gates for regulation. Both the that will permit 85 per cent of the powdered coal to and blast lines are carried in a covered trench pass through a 200 mesh screen. From the pul- beneath the floor back of the furnaces. verizers the coal is delivered by Fuller-Kinyon The pulverized coal bins for the sheet and p: pumps to 25-ton storage bins under which the pumps furnaces are along the outside of the building are located. From the storage bins the pumps deliver mediately back of the furnaces. The location otf the coal through 4-in. conduit and Fuller switching bins is an important safety feature, as dange. valyes to steel bins located at the various furnaces. having the fuel catch fire by being above or to: The pumps, which are direct connected to motors, to the sheet and pair furnaces is avoided. operate at 750 r.p.m. and supply the pulverized The plan of the fuel distribution system fo. coal to the air end of the pump in proper propor- annealing furnaces is similar to that used in tion to the air being used. A diverting valve or sheet and pair furnaces, but the pulverized « cross-over is used to connect the pumps to all dis- bins are located immediately back of the combust tributing lines. chamber, necessitating a slightly different arran: The sheet and pair furnaces are each served ment of the pipes. by 3-ton bins, the annealing furnaces by 4-ton bins The most prominent feature of the sheet, and the boilers by 5-ton bins, all equipped with elec- and annealing furnace design, compared with oth trically operated signals which indicate when the furnaces of this type, is the large combustion cha! bin is full or requires filling. From the bottom of ber. The purpose of this is precipitation and r each bin a screw coal feeder delivers the fuel into moval of ash. Clean-out openings, fitted with sult a supply line in which it is mixed and conveyed by able doors, are provided and once every three or | air to the combustion chamber through a burner weeks the powder ash accumulation is removed. T! oe Cold Rolling Department. There are two trains of cold rolls, five stands to the train, set at right angles to the length of the building No ember 4, 1920 1g chamber temperature is maintained uni- y and no interference has been found from leposit. Only one-half the coal used in hand furnaces is required when pulverized. .e boiler plant is equipped with two 250-hp. Stir.ing water tube boilers that supply steam for ing machines heating the warehouse and ope ating an air compressor, the latter used fcr sup- nlv.ng air for the Fuller-Kinyon pumping system. Th boiler setting and fixtures were designed by Fuller Engineering Co. and built by Newton Steel Co. scrap is baled in a hydraulic press located in the ean-to adjoining the sheet bar storage department. A baling machine was furnished by the Logemann Bros. Co., Milwaukee. The plant is provided with a hine shop 40 x 200 ft. in which all equipment THE IRON 1185 AGE is motor driven. The mill building was erected by the McClintic-Marshall Co. The Newton Steel Co. was incorporated in June, 1919, by men who have been prominent in the sheet industry in the Mahoning Valley. E. F. Clark is president; H. M. Steele, vice-president and general manager; R. A. Kenworthy, Jr., general sales man- ager; J. H. Fitch, Jr., treasurer; John Stambaugh, 2nd, secretary. General offices are in Youngstown. Construction of the plant was started July 1, 1919, and the first sheets were rolled April 12. To take care of the housing shortage caused by the in- flux of labor employed in the mill, the Newton Realty & Construction Co., in which the Newton Steel Co. is largely interested, was formed, and this company has erected 112 houses, most of which have been sold to employees. Automatic Hydraulically Operated Regulating System Applications to Control of ture and Electric Current—Power Tl. HE Arca system for the automatic regulation of | steam, gas, moisture, water, temperature, electric ent, ete., now in use in various industries in Sweden ing introduced in the United States by American », Ine., Grand Central Palace, New York. The ire of the regulator is the sensitive and positive 1. The auxiliary motive power is derived from under pressure which can be regulated to deliver required degree of adjusting force. Diaphragm -*} ¢ f , Valve Diaphragm . Water Chamber Relay . ~ Valve Bodf...-> & oY = _ . S \ 4 & L ~ & 5 + > S = . } iS 0 Pressure Cylinder Steam, Gas, Moisture, Water, Tempera- Plant and Electric Furnace Uses constant steam pressure is required, for maintaining water level in the boiler, on draft regulating, for regu- lating of automatic stokers, on steam traps, etc., for furnishing constant pressure gas to gas fired furnaces; in heating plants on reducing valves where reduced pressure is desired, on safety valves where steam is and for regulating water & ~~ 23 w De » Pp =e used for boiling, heating, etc., Contro/ Valve --*\Y Low Pressure onc © ceo o-oo Coco ovoa coo oo _ Adjustin | > VIGIL say Siping to Q Low Pressure Zz Cylinder . + 5 Metal ------¥} yi oa : : Pivot Bellows ; Point Diagram of the Arca System of Control Applied to a Reduc- wr ng Valve The uxiliary motive power is rive , Nozzle ing al } iu i notive po r is derived from water under pressurs which can be regulated to give the required degree of adjusting force A pressure cylinder which performs the regulating, diaphragm valve and a relay constitute the working embers. The form of the relay, as shown in the ac- ompanying illustrations, changes to suit the particular nstallation, there being a separate device for steam nd water, gas, temperature, moisture, and for electric mtrol. Applications indicative of the scope of the sys- em include the following: Carbon regulator for main- aining a constant amperage in the electric furnace; n steam plants on precision reducing valves wherever heaters, where water of a constant temperature is wanted. It is also applicable as a vacuum regulator for steam turbine condenser, as a voltage regulator for direct current generators and to regulate motor field resistance; as a moisture regulator for drying ovens; for maintaining constant water temperatures, etc. The principle of operation is shown in the diagram- matic arrangement of the apparatus as applied to re- ducing valves. Here the problem is to let the water, steam, etc., from the high pressure side through the a senna cn ll on Ao nee sn anaremoneneonnamennnonsll- >» ii ee ee a 1186 valve to the low pressure side in such amounts that the low pressure remains constant irrespective of varia- tions in high pressure and consumption. Here the ordinary globe valve is used, the handwheel being re- placed by a sprocket over which a chain travels. One end of the chain supports a counterweight, the other being connected with the piston rod of the pressure cylinder. When the port, A, of the cylinder is con- nected with the piping for water under pressure, this will press the piston inwards in the cylinder, opening the main valve. On the other hand, when the port is connected with the drain piping, the counterweight will pull out the cylinder piston closing the main valve. The apparatus for guiding water either in or out of the cylinder is a diaphragm valve, shown in section in the drawing. This valve has three ports, one con- necting with the cylinder, another to the piping for water under pressure and the third with the drain pip- ing. Part of the water coming in through the water supply port leaks through between the piston and valve body into the water chamber. One wall of this cham- ber consists of a diaphragm on one side of which the leakage water causes a certain pressure counteracted on the other side by a spring. If the water pressure on the diaphragm changes, the valve piston will move either down, thus connecting the pressure cylin- der port with either the water supply port or the water To make the water pressure on the dia- up or outlet port. phragm fairly independent of changes in the prime water pressure, the leakage water flows in a steady stream between the piston and the body of the dia- phragm valve and out through the relay discharge port. If now the discharge through this port is sup- pressed in the slightest degree, it will cause an imme diate and strong increase in the water pressure on the diaphragm. That is the point in the Arca principle. The is connected essential diaphragm valve by piping with a very small nozzle in the section. The discharge water from the diaphragm valve flows out in a tiny jet, more or less suppressed by a disk on the end of a lever which rests on pivot points and is pressed against the points and the nozzle by a spring. Counteracting the spring is a metal bellows influenced by the controlled pressure through piping to the low pressure cylinder. When the controlled pressure rises, the bellows ex- 1 1 1 1 reiay aiscnarge port on tne . i relay, which is also shown in THE IRON Forms of relays are for electric control. sion and contraction of a group of horsehairs; the tempera- ture relay on the difference in expansion of glass and brass AGE November 4, {999 N. pand pushing the lever a greater distance fr nozzle. More water flows out and the pressure water chamber of the diaphragm valve drops diaphragm and with it the valve piston move ward. The water supply port closes entirely a water outlet port gets in connection with the p cylinder, that is, the pressure cylinder is connect the drain piping. The counter weight pulls o cylinder piston and closes the main valve. This ment continues until the controlled pressure dec to the value for which the relay is adjusted. Th justing is made by increasing or decreasing the t in the relay spring by means of a screw. It is a table to any pressure within the limits for whi relay is constructed. If the low pressure drops, the bellows contract the spring pulls the lever closer to the nozzle. Th of water from the nozzle is suppressed and press the water chamber builds up. The valve piston upward, and connects with the pressure cy Water is admitted to the cylinder and forces th to the left, thus opening the main valve. The sensitiveness of the system is indicated fact that a movement of 0.002 in. on the end of relay lever is sufficient to change the position valve piston and make the cylinder piston move. W was chosen as the medium for the auxiliary pow account of its noncompressibility, thus the regu follows the impulse very closely. Variations in w pressure up to a ratio of 2 to 1 do not influenc functioning of the apparatus. For the standard ratus, however, it must not be less than 15 lb. or ex 85 lb. per sq. in. If the water used for the operat is contaminated, a water filter must be installed. When the system is to be used for other purpos the relay is equipped with other sensitive members suit ing the purposes in question. The metal bellows show in the diagram, or a bourdon spring, sensitive men bers now in use for controlling pressures are to be r placed in future models with a metal membrane or d phragm. These relays will be for pressures from 2 t 300 lb. per sq. in. or vacuum from 5in. mercury colum! For pressures between 60 in. water column, the mé branes are made of a copper sheet or of a special fi ible cloth. Temperature controlling tempe The relays regulators for tures up to 1100 deg. Fahr. are made. telays Employed. Reading from left to right the water and steam, moisture, temperature and The moisture relay denends on the expan- November 4, 1920 1 y 3 + 4 4 y 7 ? I » ' 7 | 9 } - = —————E————eeEeeeeeeEeeeeee ay amir _ 1 UW \} @ Diaphragm ] vaNe , r] { han | Vv" a } ‘af 5 Na | if }(O) 1)! | Y=; | RU | Ean — | system Applied as a Carbon Regulator for Maintaining i Constant Amperage in the Electric Furnace these regulators are actuated by a glass rod in a brass tube, the difference between the expansion of the brass ind the glass furnishing the primary impulse. For moisture regulation, a group of horsehair is used to perate the relay lever. An electrically operated relay materially broadens the field of usefulness of the regu- lator The regulators are now manufactured in Sweden t the inventor, Ragner Carlstet, is now in the United States making arrangements for their manufacture. Loans and Advances to Railroads WASHINGTON, Nov. 1.—A tabulation by the Treas- ury Department shows that the total loans to railroads thus far from the $300,000,000 revolving fund amount to $56,190,825. Advances to railroads under the guar- anty section of the transportation act total $233,719,- {74. The carriers to which loans have been made and the amount of each of the loans are as follows: Boston & Maine, $5,000,000; Salt Lake & Utah, “300,000; Carolina, Clinchfield & Ohio, $3,000,000; Ban- r & Aroostook, $20,000; Atlanta, Birmingham & At- $200,000; Great Northern, $15,900,000; West- Maryland, $300,000; Chicago & Western Indiana, ‘8,000,000; Erie, $8,000,000; Terminal R. R. Associa- of St. Louis, $896,925; Seaboard Air Line, $6,073,- 100; Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific, $2,000,000; Balti- & Ohio, $3,000,000; Virginian Railway, $1,000,- ind the Kansas City, Mexico & Orient, $2,500,000. Work on the enlargement and rebuilding of blast furnace No. 3 and on the third and fourth batteries of Otto coke plant of the Steel Co. of Canada, Hamil- Ont., has been discontinued, and nothing further be done until the steel market becomes more set- Notwithstanding that the company is holding this work, it will proceed with the erection of a wire and nail’plant at Hamilton to cost $250,000. THE IRON AGE 1187 EXPORTS ANALYZED Comparison of Quantity and Money Value In- creases Exhibits Striking Differences In an investigation carried on by O. P. Austin, statistician of the National City Bank of New York and described in the bank’s publication the Americas for October, imports and exports for the fiscal years 1914 and 1920 were studied in relation to quantity rather than money value, and as a result the increases do not appear so large after all. A close analysis of our export trade in 1920, for instance, which shows an in crease of 5% billion dollars over 1914, indicates that the percentage of gain in quantity exported in the six year period is but little greater than the percentage of increase in quantity in the like period immediately preceding the war. The increase in quantity of mer chandise exported in the six-year period 1914-1920 was, as nearly as can be determined, approximately 35 per cent, while the increase in quantity exported in the six-year period 1908-1914 approximated 25 per cent. The author also gave figures that indicate a similar condition in regard to imports. By examining the principal articles imported in which quantities can be shown, it can be seen that the number of pounds of mer chandise imported increased about 66 per cent when comparing the fiscal year 1920 with 1914